We are back with a new instalment in our social media mini-series. Today; Twitter. Well, it’s not really Twitter anymore. But it also is. But it isn’t.
Names aside, the platform operates largely the way it always has, and today we are going to examine how to get the most of it as an emerging author.
#1: Hashtags, hashtags, hashtags
We covered hashtags on Instagram last week, but there are two hashtags on Twitter that reign supreme for authors. #AmWriting and #WritersLift are largely undefeated.
But what are they exactly? #AmWriting is used by writers when they want to give their followers (or prospective followers) a glimpse into their process, or a teaser of what they’re currently writing. It makes for engaging content, and a great way to hype up people who already like your work. #WritersLift is a community engagement hashtag where writers seek to boost the status of fellow authors! This can be great for visibility.
#2: Establish a Tweeting Style
Twitter is, by and large, a little more easy-going than Instagram, in that aesthetics are not a priority. You can be a little more candid on Twitter, and putting in a couple personal anecdotes or opinions on the socio-economic downturn of the world will breathe a little more life into your account. You can choose to be serious and matter of fact with your tweets, or humorous, snarky or quick-witted; just don’t seem too much like a robot, and it goes without saying that you should perhaps avoid using the platform to spew hateful language.
#3: Use Twitter Threads
Twitter may have a strict character limit per tweet, but you can create long form tweets using the “threads” feature, where you can tie multiple tweets together. Try this feature out with your own tweets, and maybe also try to get other people to contribute to the thread by pitching a discussion!
#4: Utilise the ‘Lists’ Feature
Returning to the community aspect, ‘Lists’ is a great way to compile groups of contacts, for example; people in the writing community who you would want to keep engaging with. Similarly, it can be very useful to compile lists of literary agents and independent presses/publishing houses that you can submit your work to!
#5: Check your Analytics!
Wanna know which kinds of tweets to keep and which ones to throw out? Check your analytics! You’ll be able to see which tweets perform well and which ones don’t, so you can make informed decisions and get the most out of the platform.
